New pedestrian hybrid beacon activated today
on Route 27 in Iselin near Metropark Station
Signal promotes safety and is the first of its type in New Jersey
(Woodbridge) – Commissioner James
Simpson joined by NJ TRANSIT Executive Director James Weinstein,
Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac and others here today to activate the
first "pedestrian hybrid beacon" in New Jersey to provide an extra measure
of safety for pedestrians who cross Route 27 on the way to and from
Metropark train station.
The light, at Magnolia Road and Route 27, displays red
lights requiring motorists to come to a full stop. Unlike traditional
traffic signals, the beacon’s lights remain off, or dark, until the
beacon is activated by a pedestrian.
“(We are) serious
about pedestrian safety,” said NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson. “We
will continue to invest in safety strategies and crosswalk improvements
that alert motorists of... pedestrians.... Pedestrians (must) play their part by making smart, safe decisions and
cross roads only at authorized locations.”
NJDOT
selected the location for the federally approved traffic control device
because a significant numbers of pedestrians cross Route 27 each day on
their way to and from the Metropark train station. Approximately 800
pedestrians cross Route 27 daily at or near N. Wood Avenue, Magnolia
Road and Oak Tree Road/Green Street. The goal is to reduce incidents of
jaywalking and increase pedestrian safety.
“The
safety of our customers is our top priority, so we are pleased that the
first pedestrian hybrid beacon in the state has been installed near
Metropark Station, which is among the busiest in our entire rail
system,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director James Weinstein.
“This
busy section of Route 27 near the train station has been a safety issue
for a long time, so I am very pleased that the New Jersey Department of
Transportation and NJ TRANSIT have listened to our concerns and
responded with this innovative beacon that will provide pedestrians with
another safe option to cross the highway,” said Woodbridge Mayor John
McCormac.
The
beacon has been synchronized with nearby traditional traffic signals on
Route 27. This will help motor vehicle traffic to flow as smoothly as
possible and will help minimize congestion along a roadway that already
experiences congestion during peak travel periods. The Department has
installed GPS devices in the beacon and in nearby traditional traffic
signals to continuously synchronize their timing.
Synchronization
means pedestrians will wait from 14 seconds to 93 seconds for the
“Walk” signal after they press the button to activate the beacon.
The
beacon includes an array of three lights, two lights side-by-side above
a single light. These lights control vehicular traffic. The beacon
also includes signals that control pedestrian traffic, like most
traditional traffic signals, and provides pedestrians with audible cues
to wait or walk. The pedestrian signal features a countdown clock
indicating when motorists will get the signal to proceed.
Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon details
· When
the beacon is inactive, the lights for motorists remain dark.
Motorists may proceed without stopping. The pedestrian signal displays a
steady “Don’t Walk” signal.
· Once
a pedestrian activates the beacon, it begins its sequence, giving
pedestrians a walk signal after a wait of between 14 seconds and 93
seconds, depending on where the nearby traffic signals are in their
display cycles. The hybrid beacon sequence starts with motorists being
shown a flashing yellow light for five seconds. Pedestrians continue to
see the steady “Don’t Walk signal.
· The
flashing yellow light changes to a steady yellow signal for another
five seconds. Motorists should stop if safe to do so. Pedestrians will
continue to see the steady “Don’t Walk” signal.
· The
steady yellow light goes dark while the two lights above it display
steady red lights for ten seconds. Motorists must stop. After three
seconds of steady red lights for motorists, pedestrians are given a
“Walk” signal for seven seconds and should cross with caution.
· The
steady red lights switch to flashing red for 16 seconds, requiring
motorists to come to a full stop and then proceed only if no pedestrians
are in the crosswalk. Pedestrians will see a flashing “Don’t Walk”
signal, as well as a countdown clock starting at 16 seconds.
Pedestrians should complete a crossing if they are in the intersection
but should not begin to cross.
· The
flashing red lights turn off, creating a display of three dark lights
for motorists, who may proceed with caution without stopping at the
signal. Pedestrians will see the steady “Don’t Walk” signal, and will
need to push the button to activate the beacon.
Here are some photos from the work done on Saturday; I'm going to take a few more tomorrow, and I'll post those too, and write a little bit more about the project.
The light, at Magnolia Road and Route 27, displays red
lights requiring motorists to come to a full stop. Unlike traditional
traffic signals, the beacon’s lights remain off, or dark, until the
beacon is activated by a pedestrian.
I got this picture from a facebook posting done by the Severe NJ Weather guy - you can friend him on Facebook, if you like! He's always tracking the incoming storms and keeping me updated. This picture shows the storms heading right for us... but who knows how much they'll break apart by the time they get here?
And there's still no school in Iselin... so it's a great day to enjoy, if you have a chance! It's a scorcher out there, of course, so I hope that if you are able to enjoy it outside you can enjoy it next to a pool or something. If not, I highly recommend hanging out in the air conditioning somewhere - maybe going to Woodbridge Center and shopping for a while?
